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This
is
a
remarkable
story
of
a
remarkable
man
from
Keith
who
has
a
privileged
place
in
the
history of the Roman Catholic Church, particularly in Scotland and here in the North-East.
John
Ogilvie’s
life
was
short
and
yet
his
tale
of
bravery,
courage,
selflessness
and
devotion
to
his
faith has lasted long after his death almost 400 years ago.
A
Jesuit
priest,
he
was
martyred
in
Glasgow
for
refusing
to
denounce
Catholicism
and
accepting
that
the
King
(James
VI
of
Scotland
and
I
of
England)
had
supreme
authority
in
all
matters
spiritual
as
well
as
civil.
Ogilvie
was
no
traitor
to
his
nation;
he
declared
his
loyalty
to
his
King
on
countless
occasions,
but
made
clear
he
was
dying
“for
religion
alone”,
adding:
“For
that
I
am
prepared to give even a hundred lives”.
John
Ogilvie
was
not
born
a
Catholic.
He
wasn’t
admitted
to
the
faith
until
he
was
17
years
of
age. He was a priest for only five years and he was dead by the age of 36.
His
trial,
following
unspeakable
torture,
beatings,
starvation
and
sleep
deprivation,
and
his
subsequent
execution,
became
a
cause
célèbre
throughout
Europe
and
he
was
revered
by
his
Jesuit
order
and
throughout
the
Church.
But
it
was
not
until
1929
that
he
was
beatified
(made
Blessed) and 1976 that he was canonised as Scotland’s first Saint in more than 700 years.
So
how
did
this
young
man
from
Keith
come
to
earn
his
place
among
the
great
and
mighty
of
the
Catholic Church?
St. John Ogilvie
Introduction
Born at Keith 1579, Executed in Glasgow 1615
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